Döstädning, or death cleaning is the latest incarnation of the Brits’ love affair with Scandinavian notions.
At Just-Clear, we provide professional cleaning services, we taken a keen interest in tidying trends and this one piqued us. We clear houses ourselves after someone has died, but death cleaning differs from this.
The concept of Döstädning was discussed in a book published in 2017 – The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning (How to Make Your Loved Ones’ Lives Easier and Your Own Life More Pleasant) by Margaret Magnusson.
Downsizing
The Swedish writer was inspired to re-evaluate her home and belongings after the death of her husband. She downsized her home, went through all the possessions and memories she’d collected and found the activity soothing and helpful.
While Margaret did her Döstädning after her husband died, her book’s message is aimed at the living. Why not clear out your stuff now, she says, and make the later years of your life more comfortable and stress-free? The less clutter you have, the better.
Swedish death-cleaning, Margaret’s book claims, helps de-clutter your existence and makes you take stock of what is important.
De-Cluttering – the Bonuses
In general, de-cluttering your home is viewed as something positive. Why is this?
- It leads to a sense of accomplishment. People often put off de-cluttering, reckoning they have plenty of time. Or because it can seem like an unsurmountable job. When you do it though, it will bring a rush of achievement.
- It might make you more sociable. If your house is very cluttered, you might you’re your friends, family members and neighbours judge you for the mess. Therefore, you don’t invite them in. A clutter-free house can encourage you to ask people round for coffee, lunch, dinner and more.
- It offers people increased self-confidence and inner peace. Cleaning and chucking things out strengthens resolve and decision-making skills. When you de-clutter, it gives you the confidence to look at other areas of your life.
- It can improve health. Clutter can contribute to poor hygiene, thanks to dirt and rubbish accumulation. Toxins in the air and dust particles and toxins can affect allergies too.
- It increases efficiency. If your bills and insurance policies are within easy reach, you’ll achieve everything more quickly.
- It helps you tackle deeper problems. Many people hang onto belongings they haven’t used for years for emotional reasons. Clothing that doesn’t fit is a good example. By de-cluttering, a woman who is bigger than she was in her teens can clear out her old clothes and focus on appreciating the shape she is now.
Death cleaning adds further nuances to decluttering. You remove additional stress for your family when you die, as it’s far easier for them to go into a home that isn’t packed to the rafters with old stuff.
Brendan O’Shea, the founder and director of Just Clear, said: “We all own so much stuff nowadays, so de-cluttering has become something of a trend in recent years.
“In our line of work, we’ve carried out thousands of house clearances. What we find is that clients are quite different when we finish the job. You literally see the weight shift from their shoulders when the space clears.
“De-cluttering is good for the soul, but the job can seem overwhelming. That is where we come in. Our services are effective and competitively priced. Why not give us a call and find out more?”
Just Clear provides competitively priced house clearance services from depots across the UK. The firm specialises in hoarder house clearance and handles the job sensitively. If you’d like to find out more, call us on 020 3131 6940 or email [email protected]